But in a striking riposte, Seluk has hit back at Guardiola, declaring he will indeed apologise – but only if the City boss does likewise, and says sorry to his predecessor, Manuel Pellegrini.
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Guardiola said: “Kompany has a chance”.
“‘The day after his manager spoke and in that moment Yaya is out”. And it sounds like he wants Seluk to apologize too.
“I will not apologise to Guardiola”. He has reacted to what I have said about him by punishing Yaya again. What Guardiola wants is not possible. ‘He also needs to apologise to Joe Hart.
Seluk’s recent outburst was the final straw for City who have grown increasingly frustrated by Seluk’s public comments in recent years.
Toure has been told he will not play for City again unless Guardiola gets an apology for Seluk’s criticism of his decision to omit the player from City’s Champions League squad. “I know him, he is a good guy”.
Yaya Toure is an acclaimed 33-year-old soccer millionaire, but now he’s been helplessly reduced to a prop in a ridiculous media dispute between his coach and his agent – and benched until further notice.
It is clear that by Seluk’s refusal to tender the apology, Toure, who earns £226k per week won’t play for the next 8 months at Man City until his contract expires.
“But the day after, his manager spoke”.
The former Barcelona boss has claimed that while it was “so difficult” to exclude him from the Champions League squad, he “cannot accept” agents demanding when their clients should play.
And Guardiola said Toure, who also retired from global football on Tuesday, will not come into contention for Wednesday’s EFL Cup clash with Swansea City at the Etihad. These are the biggest players of the club.
The midfielder has started just one game this season and that was the second leg of the Champions League play-off against Steaua Bucharest, with City already leading 5-0 from the away fixture.
Guardiola appears to be incredulous at the role of Seluk and will not tolerate any interference from outside.
“I cant imagine when I was a football player my agent going to the media and speaking against Johan Cruyff”.
“Maybe it is a new period and things are changing”.
The Ivorian who announced his retirement from worldwide football today has not seen his fortunes improve thanks to comments from his agent a few weeks ago. If he has a problem, call Txiki Begiristain, the club, and they can talk.
Yaya Toure has been a mainstay of City’s midfield since joining from Guardiola’s Barcelona in 2010.
Guardiola was speaking at a press conference to preview Wednesday’s EFL Cup third-round tie at Swansea, a match it was assumed Toure could feature in.
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Toure, who had been tipped to leave after Guardiola joined from Bayern Munich in the close season, announced earlier on Tuesday (Wednesday NZ Time) his retirement from global football. It has to always be about Pep Guardiola, no-one else.
